Mercenary’s War Chapter 1946 - 1923: The Plan Fell Through

"Nate, I need to tell you sothing."

"Go ahead."

"About the Khartsyzk battle situation."

"Can’t hold on anymore?"

"No."

"What’s going on, Ram? When did you beco so wordy? Can you be more direct?"

"Okay, here’s the situation. My original plan was to let part of the 72nd Brigade enter Khartsyzk for street warfare. This way, it might ensure that Khartsyzk wouldn’t be lost and would prolong the battle, making it more intense so that you could have more influence among the various forces in Eastern Ukraine. If you control a key point in the battle, naturally, you have a say in the matter, right?"

"Don’t talk about your plan. I said you’re fully in charge. Just tell the result, the result! Is there a problem? Is it collapsing? Did letting the enemy into the city for street combat ss things up?"

"There is a problem, but it’s not collapsing. I’ve already told you, can’t you seriously listen to ?"

"F**k! Then just hurry up and say it!"

"The problem is the Khartsyzk battle situation is too smooth. The 15th Independent Artillery Regint has already surrendered to . The artillery of the 72nd Brigade’s part attacking Khartsyzk has been completely lost. The soldiers who stord into the Khartsyzk city area; a small portion were destroyed, while the majority chose to disarm and surrender. Thus, the 72nd Brigade is in a very passive state, and the remaining forces can’t maintain the battle in Khartsyzk. So, part of the 72nd Brigade might retreat, and the fight here in Khartsyzk should end because the enemy failed, and we won. Just that this victory ca a bit early, so my plan to drag out the enemy in a prolonged battle fell apart."

"Is today April Fool’s Day? Or do you think I’m too tense here and want to joke with ?"

"Today is not April Fool’s Day, and I’m not joking. I’m stating facts."

"The 15th Artillery Battalion surrendered? Why? Why did they surrender to you?"

"Because I conducted a decapitation operation and took out the 15th Artillery Battalion’s command center, capturing all the commanders, from the head to the operations staff. Then, we attacked the 15th Artillery Battalion’s Self-Propelled Howitzer Battalion, capturing everyone including all the equipnt. We then used the sa approach to sequentially attack two towed howitzer battalions, a Self-Propelled Rocket Artillery Battalion, and a Self-Propelled Mortar Battalion. They all agreed to defect. Although a small fraction of soldiers intended to resist, ultimately, led by the 15th Artillery Battalion’s head and with persuasion at rifle point, they still defected. To correct you on one point, this isn’t surrender; it’s defection."

"I... you... F**k... what are you saying? Can you say it again?"

"Uh, sure, the 15th Artillery Battalion decided to defect, revolt, and pledge allegiance to us, oh, which ans allegiance to you too. The entire battalion, including all artillery, equipnt, ammunition, and so on, excluding the security company because we took them out, so to summarize, Ukraine’s 15th Independent Artillery Regint owes a part of its security and communications companies, decided to defect to our side and will issue a public statent joining your ard forces, of course, with conditions."

"An entire battalion defecting to ? Are you kidding? How did you do it? Is this for real?"

"Nate, I didn’t know you had a stuttering problem."

"Please, F**k, please hurry and tell ! What, what are the conditions?"

"Uh, after a lengthy conversation with Rostar, that is the 15th Artillery Battalion head, he realized the reality, which is: he’s captured, his future’s gone, his reputation’s lost, and even if he returns, he’d face a court-martial. Of course, the greater likelihood is he wouldn’t be able to return and would be shot by . But he refused to defect because his family mbers are still in Kiev. He’d rather die than implicate his family, wouldn’t he? Based on this reality, I offered him several conditions."

"Please go on, please go on, speak quickly!"

"First, I guarantee to bring all his family mbers here or send them abroad, to a country of his choice, plus give him two million US Dollars. Second, I promise to bring all the families of the 15th Artillery Regint’s officers. Third, upon reaching a safe zone, release soldiers unwilling to defect to leave safely, no abuse, no insults. Fourth, after Colonel Rostar announces defection, you grant him the artillery commander position; it can be synecure, no troops to command, depending on his performance. On a side note, Colonel Rostar assures that he will work very, very hard for you. Fifth, an official statent must be issued claiming they surrendered only after heroic resistance when surrounded by a large force of militia, thus preserving their honor. Sixth, if I can’t bring over their families, I must release Colonel Rostar and his officers to leave, aning officers whose families are brought over will stay. Those who can’t have their families brought over, or prefer to return even at the cost of their lives, should not be troubled—let them go freely. That’s it, no other conditions."

"How did you manage that?"

"Just did it. Honestly, I’m not even sure exactly how it all happened. In fact, even now it’s a bit unbelievable to . However, these are the conditions. In any case, I brought back the equipnt of the entire battalion for you. Whether the people stay will depend on the outco, but that’s not crucial. We have plenty of qualified artilleryn, just not enough big guns."

"This works too? This... works too?"

"It works. Why wouldn’t it? Tell , can you agree to the conditions I’ve set? If not, I’ll release the people. Now, I’ve decided my words will count. If you can agree, then hurry and get it done."

"Yes! Of course, yes! Ram, I know your capability. You can get those people’s families over. You definitely can. The fact that you dared to set such conditions ans you can achieve it. Please, do this favor; we must keep this battalion. What I want isn’t equipnt, but influence. Influence! An entire battalion defecting—F**k! Can you imagine the political impact?"

"I know, otherwise, do you think why I would go to such lengths to handle these matters? So buddy, I’ve paid back the favor I owed you. Rember, you owe a big favor."

"Understood, understood! Thank you! Oh, God, I don’t believe in God, but I do believe now that you are certainly God’s darling. You are more like an Angel. F**k, I see now, you’re Satan, you are Satan. Your skill at swaying people’s hearts makes want to kiss your boots. Only Satan could achieve this. Frankly, buddy, it’s such a waste for you to be a rcenary instead of going into politics. I love you, you evil Devil, you evil, enchanting King of Devils, praise Satan! Hail Ram!"